Slieve Russell’s Leona Maguire is the world’s fourth best amateur according to the new Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking.

Sean MacMahon (President GUI) presents the Irish Amateur Open Trophy to the winner, Alan Dunbar (Rathmore Golf Club). Also included are John Rice (General Manager AIB, sponsors), left, and David Kennedy (Captain The Royal Dublin), right.

The Ulster golf conveyor belt produced yet another outstanding champion when Rathmore’s Alan Dunbar held off a final round challenge from Scotland’s Kris Nicol to end Ireland’s seven-year wait for a home winner in the AIB Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin.

Luke Lennox leads the way at Royal DublinMoyola Park’s Luke Lennox fired a second successive 73 to lead by two strokes from Banbridge’s Connor Doran on two-over par heading into Sunday’s final 36 holes of the AIB Irish Amateur Open at windswept Royal Dublin.

The 20-year old Ulsterman, who was runner up to Paul Cutler in last year’s East of Ireland at Baltray, defied a northwest wind that gusted over 20 mph to put himself in pole position to become the first home winner of the title since the prolific Portmarnock talent Noel Fox lifted the trophy at the Bull Island links in 2003.

Robbie CannonThe Golfing Union of Ireland has named the players who will represent Ireland in the Portuguese and Spanish amateur championships in February and March.

Paul Cutler (Portstewart), Alan Dunbar (Rathmore), Robert Cannon (Laytown & Bettystown) and Reeve Whitson (Mourne) will tee it up in the Portuguese Amateur Open Championship at Aroeira 1 Golf Club from 18-21 February.

Portstewart’s Paul Cutler took a small step towards claiming a dream place in the Walker Cup side to face the USA later this year when he shrugged off a mid-round stumble to claim a wire-to-wire win in the East of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Baltray.

The scoring didn’t quite match the scorching weather but Portmarnock’s James Fox and Portstewart international Paul Cutler are bracing themselves for a charge from the chasing pack as they head the field entering the final 36 holes of the East of Ireland Amateur Open at sun-baked Co Louth.

Irish team mates Shane Lowry and Niall Kearney remained on course to clash in the final of the West of Ireland championship at Rosses Point.